Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
ExpressVPN vs Opera
Where ExpressVPN and Opera differ
| Compare |  ExpressVPN |  Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99Lower | $8 |
| Long-term plan price | €2.49 | $4 |
| Devices | 10 to 14Higher | 6 |
| Server countries | 113Higher | 48 |
| No-logs audit | KPMG 2025 | Deloitte 2024 |
| Jurisdiction | VG | NO |
| Protocols | Lightway, WireGuardCovers more | Lightway |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, IPadOS, Android, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, Routers, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS |
| Owner | Kape Technologies | Opera Norway AS |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Renewal price | €79.95 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Kill switch, Split tunnelling | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- ExpressVPN scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Monthly price is lower at ExpressVPN: $2.99 vs $8.
- Devices is higher at ExpressVPN: 10 to 14 vs 6.
- Server countries is higher at ExpressVPN: 113 vs 48.
- Protocols: only ExpressVPN offers WireGuard.
- Platforms: only ExpressVPN offers IPadOS, Apple TV, Fire Stick.
- Platforms: only Opera offers Chromebook.
- Longest plan (months) is higher at ExpressVPN: 28 months vs 12 months.
- Support channels: only Opera offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Opera: 1995 vs 2009.
Our verdict on each
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN suits readers who want an audited no-logs VPN with broad server coverage, but its monthly plan and renewal terms sit above the field. The long-term plan lands at €2.49 a month, with servers in 113 countries and a subscription covering 10 to 14 devices.
Opera
Opera packs a browser, an ad blocker and a free built-in VPN into a single download, which suits everyday browsing on a budget. VPN Pro costs $8 a month and falls to $4 a month on its 12 month term, and the free plan keeps the VPN included.
Score breakdown
| Area | ExpressVPN | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherThe monthly plan lists $2.99 and the longest plan advertises €2.49, with renewal billing at €79.95 above that opening rate. | 9.0Entry price of $8 sits high among the 131 brands compared on price from, with an ad supported free plan underneath it. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherCovers 113 countries and 10 to 14 devices, with a 30 day refund window and audited no logs logging. | 9.1 |
| Privacy | 9.1 | 9.9Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ExpressVPN | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Virgin Islands, British | Norway |
A third option
Apple Inc. has monthly price at $0.99, against $2.99 for ExpressVPN and $8 for Opera.
Apple Inc. reviewWhere these facts come from
ExpressVPN
- expressvpn.com: 19 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Opera
- opera.com: 16 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blogs.opera.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ExpressVPN | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| VPNs | 23 of 232 | 28 of 232 |
| Privacy tools | 22 of 280 | 27 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 11 of 63 | 14 of 63 |
| Free VPNs | 19 of 189 | 24 of 189 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Features | No logs, Streaming, TravelCovers more | No logs, Travel |
| Audience | Business | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free |
| Legal entity | Express Technologies Ltd. | Opera Norway AS |
| Headquarters | Virgin Islands, British | Norway |
| Founded | 2009 | 1995Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Opera |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2.49 | $8 |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | Free of charge, ad-supported; free built-in VPN and AI chat included |
| Logging policy | No activity or connection logs: browsing history, traffic destination, data content, DNS queries and user-linked IP addresses are not collected; RAM-only TrustedServer infrastructure, independently audited | Built-in free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log; Opera collects usage and ad-related data but states it does not log or store full browsing history |
| Open source | No | Not confirmed |
| Privacy tool type | Private dns, Ad blocker | Browser, Ad blocker |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ExpressVPN | Opera | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $2.99lowest quarter | $8below the median | $9 |
| Devices | 10 to 14highest quarter | 6below the median | 10 |
| Server countries | 113highest quarter | 48below the median | 62 |
| Renewal price | €79.95above the median | Not confirmed | €69.99 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Longest plan (months) | 28 monthshighest quarter | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
Median across 139 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ExpressVPN
Pros
- The logging policy rules out activity and connection logs, and the audit behind it is KPMG 2025.
- Lightway and WireGuard protocols, with a kill switch and split tunnelling in the same subscription.
- Apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, covering desktop, mobile, TV and browsers.
Cons
- There is no free plan, so any test of the service costs money from the start.
- Renewal billing of €79.95 sits far above the €2.49 monthly rate on the longest plan.
- The long-term plan price ranks 24 of 112 among the brands compared on price, so buyers on the tightest budget have cheaper options.
Opera
Pros
- The free plan costs nothing, is ad supported, and still carries the built-in VPN and AI chat.
- Both the free VPN and VPN Pro are no-log, and the free browser VPN no-log claim was audited by Deloitte 2024.
- VPN Pro reaches 48 server countries over Lightway, with 6 devices covered.
Cons
- The free plan is ad supported, and Opera collects usage and ad related data, so ads sit in the mix alongside the free VPN.
- VPN Pro covers 6 devices, near the lower end of a site range of 1 to 50.
- The $8 entry price leaves Opera at 73 of 131 brands on price from.
Who each suits
ExpressVPN
Who it suits
- Business users who need an audited no-logs policy and RAM only servers.
- People who travel or stream and need broad country coverage in a single subscription.
- Households that want the same account across desktops, phones, TVs and browsers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping for a cheaper privacy entry point, where Apple Inc. charges $0.99 a month.
- Houses that want antivirus coverage alongside device protection, where ESET Brasil plans cover 3 to 25.
- Anyone who actually wants a password manager rather than a VPN, where Sinew Software Systems charges $1.99 a month.
Opera
Who it suits
- People who want a browser with the VPN already inside it and left on at no cost.
- Readers who weigh an audited no-log claim highly, with Deloitte 2024 on record for the free browser VPN.
- Households that want the same tools across Windows, macOS and Linux.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers after an email hiding tool on its own: Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99.
- Readers who want a data removal subscription instead, where EasyOptOuts starts at $19.99.
Current offers
ExpressVPN
Current offer
Discount code
Fall sports offer: Save 80%
Limited-time offer on 2-year plans; amounts shown in EUR, sales tax applied at checkout where applicable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Basic plan, 2 Years + 4 Months: €2.49/mo, Save 80% (EUR 69.72 billed for the first 28 months)
Then autorenews at EUR 79.95 annually; 30-day money-back guarantee for new users
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Opera
Current offer
Free trial
VPN Pro free trial: 7 days
Offered at Opera's discretion; unless cancelled before the trial ends the payment method is charged for the selected subscription period
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
ExpressVPN
How much does ExpressVPN cost at the start?+
The monthly plan lists $2.99 a month, and the longest plan advertises €2.49 a month across 28 months. Renewal billing is quoted separately at €79.95, which is the figure to budget for later. The advertised opening rate is the number most readers see first, and it is not the ongoing cost.
Does ExpressVPN have a free plan?+
There is no free plan, so there is no way to try the service without paying. The refund window is the practical substitute: 30 days from purchase to decide. Anything past that point carries the full subscription cost, so the timing of a trial matters.
Opera
How much does VPN Pro cost?+
VPN Pro opens at $8, and the monthly rate is $8. The longest term runs 12 months. On price from, Opera sits 73 of 131 brands, so entry price is its weakest cost point.
What does the free plan include?+
The free plan costs nothing and shows ads, and it keeps the built-in VPN along with AI chat. The features listed for the free tier are no logs and travel, and the pricing model is free.